LOUISE Thompson’s fiancé Ryan Libbey has revealed devastating details of her battle with postpartum depression.
Former Made In Chelsea star Louise, 35, was placed on suicide watch as she grappled with her mental health following a traumatic 36-hour labour that nearly killed her.
Louise Thompson had severe postpartum depression after giving birth to son Leo in 2021[/caption]
She was on suicide watch for a period time and had mentally ‘checked out’[/caption]
She struggled to form a relationship with her newborn son, Leo, in the early period of motherhood, so much so that if she spent five minutes with him that was deemed a success.
The complicated labour left Leo in great distress and he suffered respiratory issues linked to meconium, a bowel obstruction in newborns.
Personal trainer Ryan, 34, told Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast: “We even had a crisis-management team come very regularly, which—to be really honest with you—was a suicide watch because she was so mentally checked out.
“Which is absolutely terrifying, and I don’t think I’ve quite processed that one. I think that was something that I wanted to reframe straight away.
“It’s really, really sad to know that Louise was hurting like that and she couldn’t—and I suppose, I suppose I didn’t really understand what was happening.”
He continued: “I could understand that she was in shock and that she was completely reduced to a version of herself that was… she was just surrendering to the whole thing.
“She’d lost the fight, and I could understand it because she would have been exhausted and her body would have been looking and feeling so different.
“And to lie on the sofa with a vacant look on your face for days and weeks, I could understand that, but I couldn’t understand that we were in the place of potential: she wants to end her life, and she doesn’t really recognise or care for the baby in the room. At the time, I couldn’t quite understand that.”
To make matters worse the couple felt like they’d been forgotten by hospital staff and left to fend for themselves.
When they did receive visits from doctors Ryan claimed it was anything but sensitive and they felt rushed to push forward with parenthood with little regard for the trauma they’d been through.
In a candid admission, Ryan said he even felt resentment towards Louise due to the baby dream he’d harboured not playing out as he expected combined with an awareness that Leo craved his mum.
There was no let up in the months that followed as Louise suffered two terrifying haemorrhages at home which Ryan likened to a ‘murder scene’.
The second major bleed followed a procedure to reinstate the integrity of the womb.
He said: “I arrived at home to see her being loaded into an ambulance outside the house. I went down to the downstairs bathroom where it happened, and it was yet again just a murder scene.”
Louise’s body and mental fortitude was tested again when she had her entire large intestine removed after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
She was fitted with a stoma bag, which causes the colon and rectum to become inflamed.
Fortunately, Louise has now got a handle on her wellbeing, though she doesn’t pretend everything is perfect.
The setbacks only make her more of an inspirational figure and she documented her incredible story in last year’s Lucky: Learning to Live Again.
Louise with Leo in happier times[/caption]
The former Made In Chelsea star released a book documenting her ordeal[/caption]
Help for mental health
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support.
The following are free to contact and confidential:
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- CALM (the leading movement against suicide in men) www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Papyrus (prevention of young suicide) www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Shout (for support of all mental health) www.giveusashout.org/get-help/, text 85258 to start a conversation
Mind, www.mind.org, provide information about types of mental health problems and where to get help for them. Call the infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary).
YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for parents or carers worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving. The website has a chat option too.
Rethink Mental Illness, www.rethink.org, gives advice and information service offers practical advice on a wide range of topics such as The Mental Health Act, social care, welfare benefits, and carers rights. Use its website or call 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate).
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk, is the a mental health initiative spearheaded by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales.
